CHICAGO — Sydney Taylor has already developed a habit of delivering when the Chicago Sky need her most.
For the second time this season, Taylor hit the game-winning shot, knocking down a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds remaining to lift the Sky to a 73-70 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Friday night at Wintrust Arena.
Taylor finished with 14 points in 18 minutes, shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. But none mattered more than her final three.
With the game tied late, Taylor created enough separation off the dribble and confidently took the shot.
“I saw they were all closed in, but I was like, I’m not passing it,” Taylor said. “I got a good little side step and was able to create a little bit of space and just let it fly.”
The moment continued a remarkable rookie season for Taylor. She also hit a game-winner against Las Vegas earlier this season, making Friday the second time she has delivered the decisive shot for Chicago.
Taylor said Friday’s winner ranks just behind that previous shot.
“Right behind it, probably,” Taylor said. “I’m glad I could step up big for my team tonight.”
Her late-game heroics capped a night in which Chicago built a sizable advantage before Golden State fought all the way back.
The Sky led 38-26 at halftime after outscoring the Valkyries 21-14 in the second quarter. Chicago’s lead eventually grew to 21 points, but Golden State changed the complexion of the game after halftime.
The Valkyries outscored Chicago 25-11 in the third quarter, turning what had been a comfortable Sky advantage into a one-possession game. Golden State’s surge extended into the fourth before Chicago regained control.
Rachel Banham provided two critical 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping turn a 59-57 deficit into a 63-59 Chicago advantage.
Golden State still wouldn’t go away, setting the stage for Taylor.
Natasha Cloud led Chicago with 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists while making all five of her 3-point attempts. Kamilla Cardoso recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds while adding four assists. Courtney Vandersloot finished with 12 points and five assists.
Chicago’s perimeter shooting proved decisive. The Sky made 14 3-pointers compared with five for Golden State, giving Chicago a major advantage from beyond the arc despite the Valkyries controlling several other areas of the game.
Golden State dominated bench scoring, 51-12, and held a 34-18 advantage in points in the paint. The Valkyries also outrebounded Chicago 38-31.
Laeticia Amihere led Golden State with a career-high 16 points while making all seven of her field-goal attempts. She added six rebounds and a steal. Veronica Burton recorded 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal, while Tiffany Hayes contributed 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists off the bench.
The Valkyries’ second-half response impressed Amihere, but she said the challenge is sustaining that level of play.
“We just played how we were meant to play, getting stops on defense and winning the ball on offense,” Amihere said. “We need to sustain that [all] four quarters.”
Burton also pointed to Golden State’s reserves, who repeatedly helped the Valkyries back into the game.
“We ask the bench to do a lot of heavy lifting, and they’re incredible players,” Burton said. “They do it every single time, but we can’t put them in that position. We can’t continue to ask our bench to save us.”
For Chicago, the victory marked its third straight, the franchise’s first three-game winning streak since September 2023.
Taylor said the Sky have become better at executing when games tighten late.
“I think we’re doing a better job of staying poised down the stretch and not having costly turnovers and costly mistakes that was costing us the game early in the season,” Taylor said.
Taylor’s own return made the moment even sweeter. She had recently spent time sidelined and acknowledged the difficulty of watching instead of playing.
“It’s been a frustrating last two weeks for me,” Taylor said. “I want to be out there with my team every night.”
She was there when Chicago needed her Friday.
And for the second time this season, the ball was in Taylor’s hands when the Sky needed one final shot.
Once again, she made it.
